Treadmill

ABSTRACT

A treadmill has one short post extending downwardly from the toe end of each of both pedals and a sleeve being provided to the tail of the short post; both pedals being respectively mounted to a front lateral lever at the bottom of a base; both ends of the lever being capped; both pedals alternatively swings up and down with the lever as the axis to simplify the construction of the base while allowing wider swing angle for both pedals to effectively reduce the height of the base subject to force, thus to make the treadmill safety to use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to a treadmill, and more particularly to one that is simple in construction, and safe and reliable in operation while allowing both pedals greater swinging angle.

(b) Description of the Prior Art:

Whereas most fitness equipments generally available in the market simulate the motion patterns of outdoor sports, the user of the fitness equipment is able to work out within a confined room while achieving the equivalent fitness results in the open air. For example, a treadmill allows it user to alternatively tread on both pedals in simulating the walking pattern to achieve the purposes of sports and staying fit.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, a treadmill of the prior art is essentially comprised of two pedals 20 having their front ends pivoted to a base 10. Both pedals 20 are further connected to a hydraulic cylinder 30 so to alternatively swing up and down by taking advantage of the damping provided by the hydraulic cylinder 30 while maintaining the coordinated motions of both pedals. Furthermore, the hydraulic cylinder 30 provides proper resistance to the swing by both pedals 20 thus to demand more force applied by the user.

The base 10 is provided with a front lever 11 and a rear lever 12, and both levers 11, 12 are connected at their centers a central rod 13. A support 14 is upwardly disposed at a right angle from the center of the front lever 11. A shaft 15 each protruding from both sides of the support 14 is provided for each pedal 20 to be axially mounted thereto. However, the construction of the base 10 tends to be complicated, and the base 10 is vulnerable to topple over since it is subject to the force only at the top of the support 14 while the force applied to both pedals 20 result in shear concentrating at where between the shaft 15 and the support 14 to break up the latter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved construction of the treadmill to simplify the structure of the base to lower its height where the force is applied making the treadmill safer to use while allowing both pedals even greater swing angle by means of a short post to upgrade the workout results. To achieve the purpose, the present invention is essentially comprised of a based and a pair of pedals. The base includes a front lever, a rear lever, a central rod connecting both centers of the front and the rear levers similar to that of the prior art. But in the present invention a short post each extends downwardly from the toe end of the pedal, and a sleeve is disposed to the tail of the short post. Both pedals are axially mounted through the sleeves to the front lever at where in relation to both ends of the central rod and both ends of the front lever are respectively provided with a sole pad to permit both pedals to swing up and down with the front lever as the axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a treadmill of the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a treadmill of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a layout of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an operation status of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a central clamping member and a linking member of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 2 for the basic construction of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a base 10 is axially provided with a pair of pedals linked to each other to swing up and down for simulating the walking pattern for staying fitness purpose. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a central rod 13 extends backward from the center of a front lever 11 of the base 10, and the tail of the central rod 13 is connected to a rear lever 12 corresponding to the front lever 11 to form a base that is firmly placed on the floor.

A short post 21 disposed at its tail a sleeve 22 extends downward from a toe end of the pedal 20. Both pedals are respectively and axially mounted to the front lever 11 through their respective sleeves 22 at where in relation to both ends of the central rod 13. In the preferred embodiment, a sole pad 16 is each disposed at both ends of the front lever to prevent the sleeve 22 of the pedal contacting the ground so that both pedals 20 as illustrated in FIG. 4 alternatively swing up and down with the front lever as the axis. A buffer 19 is disposed at the rear lever 12 of the base at where in relation to the tail of the pedal 20. The buffer 19 related to a rubber block or a coil help absorb the impact resulted from the descending pedal 20.

Accordingly, in the present invention, the construction of the base 10 is simplified. The height of the location for the base 10 to subject to the force applied is lowered making the treadmill safer to use. Through the extension of the short post 21, both pedals are given wilder angle of swing to upgrade the workout results of the treadmill.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, a linking member 40 is axially mounted to the central rod 13 of the base 10 and a connection rod 41 coupled to the pedal 20 each extends from both sides of the linking member 40 to facilitate the linkage between the linking member 40 and the pair of pedals 20. In the preferred embodiment, the linking member 40 is adapted to where between an upper clamping plate 61 and a lower clamping plate 62 of a clamping member 60. Both of the linking member 40 and the clamping member 60 are axially mounted to the central rod 13 of the base 10 by means of a shaft 50. An eyelet 17 is separately provided to the central rod 13 for the lower end of the shaft 50 to be pivoted to the central rod 13. A base plate 18 is disposed to the central rod at where in relation to the rear end of the shaft and a bolt 70 is screwed to the shaft 50. Both of the bolt 70 and the base plate 18 jointly push against the shaft 50 to change the height of the pair of pedals 20 by adjusting the angle of the shaft 50 through the bolt 70.

A resistance plate 42 extends from the linking member 40 at where in relation to the shaft 50, i.e., where the linking member is axially mounted. A clamping bolt 63 is disposed to the clamping member 60 on the side in relation to the resistance plate 42 to penetrate upwardly from the lower clamping plate 62 of the clamping member 60 to be exposed out of the upper clamping plate 61. A knob is fastened to the tail of the clamping bolt 63 and a resilient pad 65 in a form of a rubber ring is provided between the knob 64 and the upper clamping plate 61. Two friction members 66 are respectively sandwiched by the upper clamping plate 61 and the lower clamping plate 62 and the resistance plate 42 to control the extent of clamping by both friction members 66 respectively from the upper clamping plate 61 and the lower clamping plates 62 by turning the knob 64, thus to adjust the force of the user applied upon the pair of the pedals 20.

The prevent invention provides an improved structure of a treadmill, and the application- for a utility patent is duly filed accordingly. However, it is to be noted that that the preferred embodiments disclosed in the specification and the accompanying drawings are not limiting the present invention; and that any construction, installation, or characteristics that is same or similar to that of the present invention should fall within the scope of the purposes and claims of the present invention. 

1. A treadmill of fitness equipment includes two pedals linked to each other being axially provided on a base to simulate walking by engaging in alternative motions up and down; the base being comprised of a front lever and a central rod extending from the center of the front lever backwards; a short post extending downwardly from each of both pedals at where in relation to the toe end; a sleeve being disposed to the tail of the short post; and both pedals being respectively disposed axially at where the front lever is in relation to both ends of the central rod through the sleeves for both pedals to swing-up and down with the front lever as the axis.
 2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein a linking member is axially provided at the central rod of the base; a connection rod each extending from both sides of the linking member to be coupled to the pedal so to constitute the linked operation for both pedals.
 3. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein a linking member is axially disposed at the central rod of the base; the linking member being mounted at where between the upper and the lower clamping plates of the clamping member; a connection rod being laterally extended from both sides of the linking member to be coupled to the pedal; a resistance plate being extended from the linking member relation to the other end where the shaft is provided; a clamping bolt being disposed to the clamping member at where in relation to one side of the resistance plate; the clamping bolt being mounted between both of the upper and the lower clamping plate; a knob being fastened to the tail of the clamping bolt; and the force applied by the user on both pedals being adjusted by operating the knob to control the extent of the clamping against the resistance plate from both of the upper and the lower clamping plates.
 4. The treadmill of claim 3, wherein the clamping bolt penetrates through the clamping member from the lower clamping plate upwardly out of the upper clamping plate, and a resilience pad is disposed between the knob and the upper clamping plate.
 5. The treadmill of claim 4, wherein the resilient pad relates to a rubber ring.
 6. The treadmill of claim 3, wherein a friction member is each disposed at where between the upper and the lower clamping plates, and where between the clamping member and the resistance plate.
 7. The treadmill of claim 3, wherein both of the linking member and the clamping member are axially provided to the central rod at the base by means of a shaft; an eyelet being provided to the to central rod to pivot to the lower end of the shaft, an adjustment bolt being fastened to where penetrating through the shaft to push against jointly with the base plate 18 to push against the shaft; and the working height of the pedal being changed by adjusting the angle of the bolt to penetrate through the shaft.
 8. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein a rear lever corresponding to the front lever is connected to the tail of the central rod of the base, and a buffer member is disposed to the rear lever at where in relation to the tail of the pedal.
 9. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the buffer member is related to a rubber piece.
 10. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the buffer member is related to a coil.
 11. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein both ends of the front lever are capped.
 12. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein both ends of the rear lever are capped. 